My last sewin trip and the biggest fish of my season!

As the weather promised to be fine and the water level 9 inches and falling I decided to go down the river just for the night!

As the water was a little high I had to walk down over Heart Attack Hill. I got to the the bottom beat by about 8.30 pm and tackled up. By just after 9.00 pm I deemed it dark enough to make a start. It was warm with a full moon and so there was little need for a torch. I fished the flats first without a sniff! By 12.00ish I was getting a little bit despondent as I hadn't seen any fish and had no pulls. I thought I would give the bush and below a try as it often produces a fish. Half way down below the bush I had a silver 3lb sewin which fought like hell! Things were looking up!

After a break I walked down to my pool full of optimism! First time down nothing! Second and third time still nothing! Decided to change my fly for a snake fly about 50mm long and black and silver. In the usual spot wallop! A big sewin this time! Before I knew what was happening it ran fast to my bank very nearly ripping my fingers off on the reel handle (they're still sore now). I drove the hook home as soon as it calmed down a bit and walked it up to the bend so as not to disturb the pool. It seemed well hooked! Then it ran over the other side into the fast water and started thumping about and jumping! It must have been a double figure fish! I tried to pressure it to get it out of the fast water and to get it above me but then the hook pulled!!! The story of my life this season!

I carried on fishing till 2.30 am but to no avail. An enjoyable night but an equally disappointing one!